Air-cooled or evaporative surface condenser



J. MACLEOD- AIR COOLED 0R EVAPORATIVE SURFACE CONDENSER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB 23, 1921.

1,427,159, Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

Z 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W I PM J. MAcLEOD.

AIR COOLED OR EVAPORATIVE SURFACE CONDENSER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB 28,1921.

Patented Aug.

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fhunmmn srA JAMES mAcLEon," or

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1922..

Application filed February 28, 1921. Serial No. 448,700.

To all whom it concern:

Be it known that I, JAMns'MAcLnoD, a

' subject of the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at Glasgowfscotland, have invented a oer tain new fand useful Improvement in Air- Cooled or Evaporative Surface Condensers, of which the following is a specification.

. This invention relates to air-cooled or evaporativesurface condensers. I

I The invention consists in a condenser havin surface heat-exchanging elements or tu es in groups, the tubes of the different groups being so arranged that the tube rows of any given group come intermediate the tube rows of an ad acent group, thereby enthe passage suring; a uniform temperature rise of the cooling medium and ensuring an equal and uniform distribution of the evaporative liquid over the condenser surface in fine layers, if such .evaporative liquid" be employed.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 an end elevation; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation .25

of the condenser on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the cooling tubes vor heat-exchanging elements;' Fig. 4.

is a-Tdetail, broken out longitudinal section of the cooling tubes; Fig. 5 shows a modification of the arrangement shownin Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an installation hereinafter referred to:

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the steam enters the condenser throughthe pipe A into the upper header 3; and passes downwards through the group of tubes or heat-exchanging elements G into the lower header D and thence upwards through the group of tubes upper header B, "and thence downwards through the tubes or heat-exchanging elements G into the bottom header D. The condensate resulting from the 1gJassage of steam through the tubes C and may be withdrawn at. F; the condensate resulting from of steam through the tubes Gr may be withdrawn atK. As shown, the

A "headers B and D are each divided into two sections by means of partitions L and M, the condenser being constructed according to the three fiow system.

-Ins%ection doors are fitted to the headers v at O,

one group, thus splitting the core of the gaseous cooling medium coming from between the rows of the preceding group, and ensuring a uniform rise in the temperature of the air during its passage through the condenser. The cooling medium is drawn through'the condenser over the tube surfaces by means of a suction fan appliance U propelled by an electrical motor V (Fig. 2). Liquid is supplied to sprayers W (Fig. 1) through the pipes at. The liquid is sprayed in front of the condenser, and is carried through by the gaseous cooling medium and deposited on the outer tube surfaces andevaporated due to the heat of the vapour inside the tubes, the liquid thus evaporated being carried rapidly away by the gaseous cooling medium. Similar sprayers are also fitted in the spaces b and c (Fig. 2) so that each group of tubes is provided with an independent supply of liquid in the form of a fine spray which also ensures that all the tubes throughout the condenser will be covered with a thin film or layer. of liquid.

The condenser is so constructed that the 7 air during its passage between the tubes of each group becomes heated and in this state absorbs the vapour generated by the films of liquid in'contact with the outer tube surfaces. The air entering the condenser and. passing between the tube surfaces through the group of tubes G (Fig. 2) becomes heated, and, in entering the space I), it is brought into contact with a fresh supply of cold liquid in a fine spray, the effect being to cool the air and partially to condense the vapour before entering the group of tubes E,

when it is again heated and again comes into contact with a further fresh supply offliquid at 0, being again cooled before entering-the I group of tubes C; this condition may be continued for any number of groups.

The tubes or heat-exchanging elements S 110- tube plate and secured to the top tube plate by means of packing and ferrules ('Fig. 4).

In the installation shown in Fig. 6 in which the heat-exchanging elements 1 of the condenser are in a horizontal position, the steam enters at 2 and passes through the tubes in a single flow, the condensate being withdrawn at 3 from the header 4,'the noncondensible gases being; Withdrawn at a point near the upper end of the header 4; evaporative liquld being sprayed at the points 5 at the entrance of the condenser surface and Withdrawn by a fan 6. .The pocket 7 formed on the header serves to collect the prevent flooding.

Figs. 3 and 5 show how the rows of tubes in one group are staggered, or arranged in different planes, with relation to the.'rows of tubes of an adjacent group, and Fig. 5 also shows a staggered arrangement ofthe tubes of each group.

LA condenser having surface heat-exchanging tubes or elements in groups, the rows of tubes or elements of each group being staggered with relation to the rows of elements of an adjacent group, means for passing a cooling medium successively over the tubes or elements of said groups, and means for spraying evaporative liquid on the elements of the first group traversed by the cooling medium.

along with the air] condensate and ad acent both ends of said tubes or elements open,

one of said headers being constructed for the drainage of the condensate, and means for spraying 001m liquid on said condensing tubes or elements. 3. A condenser comprising surface heatexchanging "tubes or elements arran ed in groups, the rows of tubes or elements in the different groups being staggered with rela tion to the rows of -tubes or elements of an group, hollow headers into which both ends of said tubes or elements open,

said headers being provided with partitions I i to cause a reverse flow of the fluid in adjacent groups of heat-exchanging or condensing tubes or elements, one of said headers being. constructed for the drainage of the condensate, and means for-spraying a cooling liquid on said condensing tubes or elements.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the'presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses: ,3 e I KATE YOTHIERINGHAM, IseBnL Rom. 

